In a desolate, moss-covered cave, there was just enough space for two or three people.

’Among those of the same tier, Sword Cultivators reign supreme... No wonder all the Sword Cultivators described in the texts are so arrogant. They’ve earned the right to be!’

Bai Zichen ran over two mountain peaks before finding a secluded cave to hide in.

Killing two Tribulation Cultivators wasn’t a big deal, even if it came out into the open. He just needed to calm down and review the battle.

This was the first time his Ink Bamboo Sword had truly been used against an enemy, and the results were better than he could have imagined.

’Although I’m not a true Sword Cultivator yet, just someone skilled at Controlling Flying Swords, the Sword Light’s speed and killing power crushes all other Magical Artifacts.’

’There’s a reason any decent Flying Sword can sell for a sky-high price.’

’Ordinary Protective Magical Artifacts can’t withstand more than a few hits from the Ink Bamboo Sword... I’d probably need a Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact for it to have any real effect.’

Bai Zichen held the Ink Bamboo Sword horizontally before him, carefully inspecting it to see if the blade had been damaged in the clash with the Heavy Shield Magical Artifact.

After checking it over several times and confirming the blade was as smooth as new, he breathed a sigh of relief. He would nourish it again tonight with the Sword Nurturing Technique, just to be safe. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

’The most important thing is speed! Most Qi Refining Cultivators have never even seen a Flying Sword. Their Combat just involves blasting each other with a few Magical Artifacts. How could they possibly react in time... So I can’t get carried away by this victory. If I were fighting a Sect Disciple who was prepared for a Flying Sword... it would take at least five strikes!’

’Also, when I put all my strength into controlling the Flying Sword, my Magical Power drains like a river bursting its banks. If I can’t win quickly, I risk running out of Magical Power... I have to be careful about this. If I run into a Cultivator with a Cultivation Technique that grants vast and deep Magical Power, I could easily be worn down and killed.’

’Also, I’m still missing a Defensive Magical Artifact, but not a clumsy one like a shield... That Golden Light Sun Bracelet that Chen Xiu had would be perfect for me...’

However, any Defensive Magical Artifact that could catch Bai Zichen’s eye had to be at least Top Grade. Anything worse would either be useless or become obsolete after a short period of use.

For example, the Purified Water Bottle he received at Sect Leader Wei’s hundredth birthday banquet—he’d used it twice after returning.

In one go, it could suck a small, thirty-foot-wide pond dry, storing all the water inside the bottle, which would then feel hundreds of pounds heavier.

In battle, he could tip the bottle, and a torrent would surge out to wash away his opponent, or it could form several water shields to protect his body.

For other Qi Refining Cultivators, the Purified Water Bottle might be a decent Mid-Grade Magical Artifact, but to Bai Zichen, it felt a bit lackluster.

It’s just that a Top-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact with outstanding properties would not be cheap.

Bai Zichen only had a little over seventy Spirit Stones in his storage bag, all told. And he had saved those up piece by piece through his Clan’s benefits.

’I promised to turn you into the Que Family’s Twin Ghosts, and I wouldn’t be a day late... Since you chose the path of a Tribulation Cultivator, you should have expected this outcome.’

Bai Zichen recalled his uncle’s warning from years ago: those who lose themselves to murder and plunder will one day bite off more than they can chew.

He would show no mercy to Tribulation Cultivators who revealed their killing intent toward him.

This also resolved a potential problem for that young girl, Jiang Shu. The Que Family brothers had been coveting her beauty, so her journey back would have been risky.

’This Gourd should be a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact... It can release a poisonous smoke that can incapacitate a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator within a ten-foot radius. If the range is extended to a thousand feet, it’s only effective against mortals.’

Bai Zichen held the small Gourd and swung it lightly in his hand.

With his Divine Sense aiding in identification, the functions of a Magical Artifact of this level couldn’t hide from him. He could figure them out after examining it for a short while.

’As for this Bone Whistle, it’s a bit strange... The Spiritual Power it contains reaches the level of a Top-Grade Magical Artifact, but the materials it’s made from are clearly insufficient for that. When you blow into it, it can transform into a White Bone Arrow to shoot down enemies.’

Bai Zichen shook his head. ’My knowledge is still lacking. By relying purely on the wonderful uses of my Divine Sense, I’m only replicating some of the effects of a proper Treasure Identification Skill.’

To determine its true grade, he would have to go to the Market and ask a Treasure Appraiser to identify it.

’Let’s see what else is in these two storage bags...’

Before leaving, Bai Zichen had used his Sword Light to snatch the storage bags from the Que Family brothers. Now, with a surge of Magical Power, he erased the previous owners’ imprints in just a few minutes.

This storage bag was the same size as his own, with only about three cubic feet of space. The first thing he saw upon opening it was a pile of Spirit Stones.

A sweep of his Divine Sense revealed a total of two hundred thirty-three Spirit Stones.

Other than that, there were some spare clothes and a few scattered Talismans. The only thing that could be considered truly valuable was a piece of blood-colored ore.

It wasn’t stained with blood; rather, it was naturally threaded with crimson veins, like a piece of ore with its own blood vessels.

Bai Zichen had never seen this type of ore in any book, but his intuition told him it wasn’t a Tier One Ore.

When he tried to probe it with his Divine Sense, it was immediately met with a barrage of noise, startling him so much that he instantly retracted his Divine Sense.

’It has to be at least a Tier Two Ore... After I get to the Qingfeng Sect, I’ll find some books on minerals to read up on it.’

A Tier Two Ore could already serve as the main material for a Spiritual Artifact.

This blood-colored ore was so strange, it might even be a Tier Three Ore. That was a material needed for Refining Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts or even Magical Treasures!

’Hot damn. No wonder they get addicted to the business of being Tribulation Cultivators and can’t pull themselves out. They’re loaded...’

Bai Zichen put his gains away and picked up the other storage bag. This time, it took him a full fifteen minutes.

The previous owner must have been the elder of the Que Family brothers. He was also at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, so breaking the Magical Power imprint of a cultivator with the same Cultivation as himself naturally took more effort.

Three blood-stained Low-Grade Magical Artifacts, a bottle of Qi Replenishing Pills, two Jade Scrolls, and about thirty Spirit Stones.

After clearing out the miscellaneous junk, this was everything left in the elder Que brother’s storage bag.

The Magical Artifacts were probably looted and he hadn’t had time to sell them yet. Bai Zichen glanced at the two Jade Scrolls, which recorded two different Cultivation Methods.

One was the Thick Earth Techniques, suitable for Cultivators with an Earth Spiritual Root, which could be used to practice Cultivation all the way to the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.

The other was the Geng Metal Pure Yang Technique, suitable for Cultivators with both Metal and Fire Spiritual Roots, allowing one to cultivate all the way to Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Both of these Cultivation Methods were more than just a notch above the Chang Chun Skill.

’The Thick Earth Techniques are whatever, but the Geng Metal Pure Yang Technique is quite a good Cultivation Technique. The Magical Power it cultivates is righteous and pure, possessing the power to subdue demons and perform Exorcism. And I meet the Cultivation Conditions...’

Bai Zichen hesitated, holding the Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll for the Geng Metal Pure Yang Technique.

’I’ll set it aside for now and think it over later. Switching Cultivation Techniques is no small matter.’

He took stock of all his loot: a total of two hundred sixty-five Spirit Stones, three Low-Grade Magical Artifacts, two Mid-Grade Magical Artifacts, one bottle of Elixirs, one piece of suspected Tier Two Ore, two Cultivation Methods, and a pile of miscellaneous items.

’I’m rich! I’ve struck it big this time! Tribulation Cultivators are so wealthy! Most Cultivators from Cultivation Families aren’t as loaded as the Que Family brothers... This no-cost business of being a Tribulation Cultivator really is the fastest way to make money!’

Bai Zichen marveled for a moment, then sorted and stored everything away, stuffing the two storage bags into his Daoist Robe.

After slipping out of the cave, he got his bearings and headed straight for the Qingfeng Sect.